Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Rotterdam on May 22, organisers have confirmed.

The musical extravaganza, a high-profile casualty of the coronavirus lockdown, will go ahead at the Ahoy conference centre, with the semi-finals on May 18 and 20.

Jeangu Macrooy will represent the Netherlands, but competition rules require him to submit a different song from Grow, which he was due to perform this year. He is guaranteed a place in the final as the host nation’s act.

Organisers will now examine how to adapt the plans for this year’s show for the 2021 version. The event’s executive producer, Sietske Bakker, said: ‘We now have a year to explore all scenarios in detail with the parties involved and to make the shows happen regardless of the circumstances, with adjustments if necessary.’

Bakker added that his team was working on the assumption that capacity crowds would be allowed at events next May. ‘All the indications are that next year’s Eurovision will go ahead with an audience. If that turns out at a later stage not to be possible, we’ll obviously have to come up with alternative scenarios.’

People who bought tickets for this year’s Eurovision have until June 26 to claim refunds if they are unable to be in Rotterdam next year. So far 4% of ticket holders have been refunded.